28th Mar 16, 5:40pm
Allan Barber assesses Fonterra's disastrous attempts to justify its startling strong-arming of suppliers and thinks these actions point to wider management problems
Allan Barber assesses Fonterra's disastrous attempts to justify its startling strong-arming of suppliers and thinks these actions point to wider management problems
24th Mar 16, 11:35am
Allan Barber surveys Fonterra's unrelenting optimism and wonders whether its latest result was really as good as it could have been and if the dairy giant really is now in a more robust condition
Allan Barber surveys Fonterra's unrelenting optimism and wonders whether its latest result was really as good as it could have been and if the dairy giant really is now in a more robust condition
17th Mar 16, 10:11am
Allan Barber reviews the main rural industry research drives but finds the number focused on genuine added value products are not large. But there are some significant ones
Allan Barber reviews the main rural industry research drives but finds the number focused on genuine added value products are not large. But there are some significant ones
11th Mar 16, 9:12am
Allan Barber wonders why it took the SOE so long to action a change of strategy toward high value consumers, suspects it's making a virtue out of necessity
Allan Barber wonders why it took the SOE so long to action a change of strategy toward high value consumers, suspects it's making a virtue out of necessity
4th Mar 16, 10:24am
Allan Barber reports problems continue with the NAIT tracking and transfer systems and there appears no urgency by the system operators to sort them out
Allan Barber reports problems continue with the NAIT tracking and transfer systems and there appears no urgency by the system operators to sort them out
16th Feb 16, 7:07pm
Allan Barber says meat companies will be successful if they don't involve paying too much for livestock, focuses on markets, their cost base, and suppliers
Allan Barber says meat companies will be successful if they don't involve paying too much for livestock, focuses on markets, their cost base, and suppliers
4th Feb 16, 10:56am
AFFCO shines as it gains support from farmers by focusing on efficiency and market success, winning it additional quota allocation
AFFCO shines as it gains support from farmers by focusing on efficiency and market success, winning it additional quota allocation
28th Jan 16, 8:43am
Allan Barber notes the market fundamentals for sheepmeat are very fragile and unlikely to improve in the short term; there are even question marks over the long term
Allan Barber notes the market fundamentals for sheepmeat are very fragile and unlikely to improve in the short term; there are even question marks over the long term
14th Jan 16, 9:08am
Allan Barber says that while partnerships help everywhere, it is especially true in China, because it "is different"
Allan Barber says that while partnerships help everywhere, it is especially true in China, because it "is different"
23rd Dec 15, 11:00am
Allan Barber is baffled by the Ministry for Primary Industries' latest outlook report, suggesting it's too rosy
Allan Barber is baffled by the Ministry for Primary Industries' latest outlook report, suggesting it's too rosy
16th Dec 15, 11:51am
Rapidly changing customer preferences makes it tough for cooperatives to deliver their supplier-shareholders' expectations. Allan Barber reviews how Fonterra, SFF and Alliance deal with the challenge
Rapidly changing customer preferences makes it tough for cooperatives to deliver their supplier-shareholders' expectations. Allan Barber reviews how Fonterra, SFF and Alliance deal with the challenge
8th Dec 15, 9:36am
Food safety and protection from biological risk are the last of MPIs core priorities, says Allan Barber. He thinks they should be first in another agency's list of responsibilities
Food safety and protection from biological risk are the last of MPIs core priorities, says Allan Barber. He thinks they should be first in another agency's list of responsibilities
26th Nov 15, 8:46am
The South Island co-ops are turning an industry of ugly ducklings into one on a sound efficient footing. Offer farmers better sustainable choices says Allan Barber
The South Island co-ops are turning an industry of ugly ducklings into one on a sound efficient footing. Offer farmers better sustainable choices says Allan Barber
11th Nov 15, 11:35am
Allan Barber says the latest SFF results are a watershed and shows that the business is back 'under control'; and without debt, farmer shareholders may get better returns with 50% ownership than 100%
Allan Barber says the latest SFF results are a watershed and shows that the business is back 'under control'; and without debt, farmer shareholders may get better returns with 50% ownership than 100%
7th Nov 15, 8:37am
British farms are 'laughably unprofitable' without subsidies and protection says a UK report claiming EU support measures are the only thing keeping the sector alive
British farms are 'laughably unprofitable' without subsidies and protection says a UK report claiming EU support measures are the only thing keeping the sector alive
28th Oct 15, 2:41pm
Allan Barber again defends the Silver Fern Farms-Shanghai Maling deal, saying perennial expectation SFF was a year away from disaster was bad for the whole industry
Allan Barber again defends the Silver Fern Farms-Shanghai Maling deal, saying perennial expectation SFF was a year away from disaster was bad for the whole industry
15th Oct 15, 5:05am
Allan Barber says the Independent report and road show fail to satisfy all Silver Fern shareholders
Allan Barber says the Independent report and road show fail to satisfy all Silver Fern shareholders
1st Oct 15, 8:27am
Allan Barber sees a stronger SFF stimulating the whole meat industry to focus on value added production destined for higher paying markets, which will necessitate paying suppliers for performance
Allan Barber sees a stronger SFF stimulating the whole meat industry to focus on value added production destined for higher paying markets, which will necessitate paying suppliers for performance
30th Sep 15, 2:10pm
Allan Barber says Shanghai Maling is no Trojan horse and is probably much a better owner than the Vesteys and Borthwicks of the past. And farmers will still hold "a powerful weapon"
Allan Barber says Shanghai Maling is no Trojan horse and is probably much a better owner than the Vesteys and Borthwicks of the past. And farmers will still hold "a powerful weapon"
15th Sep 15, 4:43pm
Allan Barber points out Shanghai Maling is both replacing the short-term banks, plus investing heavily long-term, both without full control or exclusivity. So what's the downside?
Allan Barber points out Shanghai Maling is both replacing the short-term banks, plus investing heavily long-term, both without full control or exclusivity. So what's the downside?
9th Sep 15, 11:02am
Allan Barber says Australia is struggling with irrational local community reactions to assessing foreign rural investment, and New Zealand has some clear advantages in this process
Allan Barber says Australia is struggling with irrational local community reactions to assessing foreign rural investment, and New Zealand has some clear advantages in this process
2nd Sep 15, 7:53am
Allan Barber reviews the enterprise structures in the New Zealand agribusiness sector and finds what works best for this industry
Allan Barber reviews the enterprise structures in the New Zealand agribusiness sector and finds what works best for this industry
20th Aug 15, 1:22pm
Allan Barber reports on the latest MIE proposal to bring the two cooperative processors together. Enforceable supply contracts and levy deductions without price guarantees, lie at its heart
Allan Barber reports on the latest MIE proposal to bring the two cooperative processors together. Enforceable supply contracts and levy deductions without price guarantees, lie at its heart
15th Aug 15, 5:30pm
High beef production volumes comes when prices are high, US demand strong, and exchange rate low
High beef production volumes comes when prices are high, US demand strong, and exchange rate low
6th Aug 15, 10:49am
Allan Barber says Fonterra’s restructure is more about poor strategy than milk price
Allan Barber says Fonterra’s restructure is more about poor strategy than milk price
